Exhaust manifold



O 15, 1 A. BERGER EXHAUST MANIFOLD Filed D80. 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 44:04PM L .BERGER Oct. 15, 1940. Y A; 1.. BERGE v 7, 64

EXHAUST MANIFSLD Filed Dec. 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR ADOLPH L BERGER iizflexfll m Oct. 15, 1940. v A, 1., BERGER 2,217,664

EXHAUST MANIFSLD' Filed Dec. 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 AW/EA/TO/V 4/ 2 4004 PH L 495F625? 15, 1940- A. L. BERGER I 2,217,664

EXHAUST MANIFOLD Filed Dec. 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4Claims. (01. 285-193) (Granted under-the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

'6 The present invention relates to new and novel improvements in exhaust manifolds for internal combustion engines, and is a continuation, in part, of application, No. 26,437, filed in the U S. Patent Office, June 13, 1935.

It is well known that in the operation of internal combustion engines having exhaust manifolds connected to the exhaust ports of the individual cylinders by branch leads, the intense heat of the exhaust gases causes warping, buckling, and other forms of distortion in the branch leads and manifold due to the expansion and contraction effects produced by said heating,

The effect of such distortion on the one-piece manifold heretofore used, or on a multi-section 2o manifold connected by rigid couplings, or by couplings not permitting any angular displacement is to cause said branch leads to become misaligned with their respective exhaust ports, or in some instances to be completely torn loose either from the exhaust port of the cylinder or from the juncture with the manifold; or again, in other instances, to form cracks. In any such event, the exhaust gases will be permitted to escape before being conducted away through the 3o manifold.

To overcome this difliculty, I have invented, for use in an exhaust manifold for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of branch leads, a new and novel construction to accommodate the contraction and expansion effects produced in the manifold assembly, and to enable relative angular and longitudinal displacement of separate sections of the manifold with respect to each other, thereby eliminating the strains and stresses that would ordinarily distort or shift the branch leads and manifold sections.

,The primary object of the present invention is to provide a manifold arrangement incorporating a plurality of branch leads wherein means is provided for accommodating relative thermal effects resulting from temperature changes without exercising any strain tending to shift the branch leads and whereby relative motion can take place between the respective branches.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust manifold arrangement comprising a plurality of relatively movable sections in operative engagement with one another, each incorporating one or more branch leads for the 55 suction or exhaust branches of an internal combustion engine, wherein means is provided which i permits freedom of buckling or distortion of the several sections of the manifold due to thermal expansion or contraction effects arising out of temperature changes, without exercising undue strain tending to cause misalignment of the separate branch leads and consequent leakage between the branch leads of the manifold and the exhaust or suction branches of the engine. l

A further object of the present invention is to '10 provide a manifold-arrangement comprising a plurality of ."aparable sections, each incorporating one or more branch leads in operative communication with the suction or exhaust branches of the individual cylindersv of an internal com- '15 bustion engine, any one of said sections being individually removable 'from any other section without dismounting' of the manifold so as to permit ready access to the engine structure.

Another'object of the present invention is to provide, in an exhaust manifold comprised of separable sections, coupling means which enable angular and longitudinal displacement between adjacent sections of the manifold, due to thermal expansion arising from temperature changes, while substantially preventing the leakage of gas.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel connector in which a heat resistant packing element is so arranged with respect to the member to be connected as to enable longitudinal and angular displacement therebetween.

. With the above noted and other objects in view, which may be more fully understood from the following description, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of .the parts, together with such other modiflcations and variations as may be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, described in the following specification and claims:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the 40 application of my manifold to anlinternal combustion engine having radially arranged cylinders,

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the manifold in side elevation,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of one form of my improved coupling,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of a modified form of my improved coupling,

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of a further modification of my improved coupling,

Fig. '7 is an end elevation of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the packing element shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of a still further modification of my improved coupling,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation view of Fig. 11 is a detail view of a shim to be used with the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10,

Fig. 12 is a fractional assembly view of a modified form of my packing element, and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail view of a further embodiment of nm invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 wherein corresponding parts are designated by like numerals throughout the several views, the present preferred embodiment of the invention herein illustrated comprises a manifold generally indicated by the numeral i which is disposed in a substantially encircling relation to an internal combustion engine having radially disposed cylinders l2, the location of the manifold being adjacent to the engine cylinder portion l3, either forwardly or rearwardly thereof.

For purposes of illustration the exhaust manifold is herein shown as forwardly of the engine cylinders l2, although it is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to rearward location of the manifold without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Branch pipe leads l4 are provided between the exhaust discharge ports of the engine cylinders l2 and the manifold ill, the manifold terminating in a discharge member l6 which is directed rearwardly and may be extended for any desired distance along an outer wall of the fuselage.

One feature of the present invention resides in the use and particular manner of construction of flexible or yleldable coupling elements in the body structure of the manifold. As more particularly shown in Fig. 2, the body structure of the manifold comprises a plurality of separate sections i0 each of which includes one or more of the branch pipe leads I, heretofore mentioned, which are suitably connected to the exhaust discharge ports of the engine. It should also be noted that the several manifold sections are disposed in continuing or series relationship with respect to one another. The adjacent ends of each manifold section are operatively connected together by means of coupling members or joints To this end the adjacent ends of each manifold section are provided with flanges I! to which are suitably secured as by bolts I! the flanged outer ends 20 of the tubular members 2| which form, in this modification of the invention, an essential part of the coupling members H, the flanges 20 serving to limit the relative axial or longitudinal displacement between the member I! and the tubular members 2|.

In order to provide for expansion or contraction of the manifold structure itself due to thermal effects and to further provide for buckling and distortion of the manifold under changing temperature conditions, the coupling members I! may take the form of a telescopic joint arrangement which permits of relative movement of the adjacent sections of the manifold in all directions and thereby enables angular and iongitudinal displacement of the sections without injury to the body structure of the manifold by the expansion or contraction effects arising from changes in temperature. For this purpose the tubular members 2| have mounted thereon and in overlapping relation therewith a telescoping sleeve-like member 22. This member is provided adjacent its opposite ends with a pair of annular grooves or housings 23 and H in which are mounted expansible and contractible metallic coil elements 25 and 26 formed from a wire of uniform, circular cross section which serve as a packing or sealing means. Preferably, these sealing elements are .made of soft iron material so as to readily conform to the curvature of the outer surfaces of the tubular members 2| and the bottom of the annular groove 23 and 24 regardless of the out-of-round condition which may arise from temperature changes.

It should be further noted that these annular grooves are preferably made of such size that upon insertion of the sealing elements therein, the convolutions of the said elements will be disposed in contiguous relationship with respect to one another. The diameter of the coil is such that it will have good'surface contact at its outer surface with the complementing surface of the housing, the housing having a width of sufiicient size to permit displacement of the coil during angular displacement of the member connected. The cross-sectional dimension of the sealing elements are such that the overlapping portions of the sleeve-like members 22 will be spaced from the outer walls of the tubular members 2|. Thus, considerable displacement is permitted between adjacent manifold sections without injury to the manifold assembly and without imparting any strain whatever on the branch leads tendingtoward leakage at their points of attachment, to the exhaust ports of the engine.

Hence, it will be seen that gases passing from the manifold and toward the end of the sleeve-like members 22 will contact the sealing elements and exhaust gases will be prevented from escaping into the atmosphere. The number of convolutions of the sealing elements may be varied for different types of engines, preferably being greater in number for large engines, so as to obtain a larger surface contact area between convolutions as well as between the inner and outer peripheral contacting surfaces and thereby reduce the possibility of leakage past the sealing elements caused by increased pressure of the 88885.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the sleeve-like member carrying the sealing elements is freely movable longitudinally with respect to the tubular members 2|. Its longitudinal movement, however, is limited by the distance between its ends and the flanged ends of the tubular members so as to maintain operative communication between adjacent manifold sections in the event of slippage of the sleeve-like member arising from vibration or other extraneous causes. 3

As a further modification of the invention, the member 22' may take the form of a split sleeve as shown in Fig. 5 to thereby eliminate the necessity of providing the tubular members 2| heretofore mentioned. 'As shown in Fig. 4, the split sleeve 22' is disposed in overlapping relation with the ends 23' and 24' of adjacent manifold sections and maintained in spaced relationship in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. This variation embodies an 32 are positioned centrally of the sleeve 22' adapted for engaging the ends of adjacent manifold sections, thereby limiting the longitudinal movement of the sleeve 22' so as to maintain operative communication between adjacent manifold sections and prevent excess slippage of the sleeve arising from vibration of the engine structure.

A further variation of my inventionis shown adjustable split clamp 33 wherein means are provided to obtain an improved sealing connection by using a sealing or packing element of the character described withgreater contacting areas and by providing means to seal the joining ends of the split clamp. In this variation, the tubular ends 34 and 35 to be connected are provided with outwardly protruding radial flanges 36 and 31, each of which forms one retaining wall for each of the housings for the packing elements 38, the other retaining walls of the housings being formed by the inwardly protruding radial flanges 39 and 40 on the clamping member. It is therefore seen that the housings for the packing elements are formed by the interiorly hollowed or channelled split sleeve 33 cooperating with the exteriorly flanged end portions of the tubular members.

In order to obtain greater sealing effectiveness, I have used for a packing element 33, a helical coil, as shown in Fig. 8, which is similar to the packing elements 25 and 26 shown in Fig. 3, and 25' and 26' shown in Fig. 4, except that the wire from which said coil is formed instead of being circular in cross section is square in cross section, thereby presenting a greater contact area and consequent greater sealing eflectiveness between the contacting surfaces of the convolutions and between the contacting surfaces of the coil, the

housing, and the member to be connected. As in previous variations, the packing elements further serve to space the clamp or sleeve from the tubular members and are also spaced from the retaining walls of the housing in order to enable the desired angular displacement.

Leakage past the ends of the split clamp is prevented by the use of an overlapping portion 4| rigidly attached to one of each pair of adjoining ends of the clamp. This overlapping portion is of the same contour as the clamping member 33 and nests with said, clamping member. The complemental end of the split clamp is thereby adapted to flt into and under saidoverlapping portion to complete the seal of the packing element. To the end portions provided with the rigidly attached overlapping portion are also rigidly attached, as by welding, bored lugs 42. On the complemental ends of the split clamp not provided with the overlapping portion are likewise rigidly attached a bored lug 43 complemental to the first-named lug. In the case of the last-described lug, it is attached to the clamp for a limited distance at its posterior end 44 so as to provide a space thereunder in which to receive the said overlapping portion when the split clamping portions are placed together. Said clamping portions are joined by bolts 45 or other suitable locking means. In this design of split clamp, in order to provide for adjustment it is necessary that the clamp be so constructed that the ends are spaced apart, as at 46. Likewise, the inner complemental ends of the lugs are spaced apart so as to permit tightening as wear occurs.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a still further modification of an adjustable split clamp, similar to the preceding modiflcation except that the packing elements 38' are constructed with an outer arcuate peripheral surface 41. The packing elements, as shown in Fig. 9, may be of helical coil construction such as shown in Fig. 8, except that the cross sectional configuration of the wire would be varied to provide the said arcuate surface as it appears in Fig. 9, or it may be composed of separate split rings as shown in Fig. 12. The packing element in Fig. 12, comprising a plurality of split rings 48, I9 and 50, may be made by cutting a cylinder with an arcuate periphery into a. plurality of ring sections. In this connection I wish to define the term "0011 as used herein as a series of rings in which adjacent rings form continuations of one another or a series of split rings arranged with the split ends out of registry to provide a substantial circumferential continuation of one another, and with adjacent rings contacting one another. It is also to be understood that I do not limit the composition of my packing element to metal but to any heat resisting material having the desired characteristics at elevated temperatures such as are encountered in internal combustion engines. By heat resisting material it is meant a material which will not materially deteriorate when subjected to elevated temperatures. 1

Conforming with the change made in the outer periphery of the packing element, in this modiflcation, is the provision of annular grooves SI and 52 in the interior surface of the split clamp corresponding to and complementary with the arcuate periphery on the packing elementlj The advantage to be gained by an arcuate housing surface in cooperation with the arcuate outer surface of the packing element is that it will provide for greater annular displacement between the member to'be connected and the clamping member, in that such angular displacement with respect to each other will become partially a matter of rotation on said arcuate surface.

This modification is also varied over the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in that no overlapping portion is used to complete the seal of the complemental ends of the split portions of the clamp, but rather metallic shims of'thin metal, as shown in Fig. 11, having the same contour on their inner edges as the inner contour of the clamp itself, are provided for placing between the inner ends of the complemental lugs. Whiiefthe assembly is new, and before wear or adjustment has occurred, several of these shims may be introduced and then as wear occurs between the members, shims may, from time to time, be removed, thereby providing adjustment to take up wear. Instead of the lug with a single locking bolt, as shown in Fig. 6, it is preferred I to provide holes in the modified lugs 42' and 43' for a plurality of lock bolts 45' in order to better hold the shims in the pre-determined position provided. r

Fig. 13 shows a modification of my invention in which the split clamp providesf with one of the members to be connected, a single housing for the reception of a single packing element and has a peripheral friction contact 53 with the other member. The construction of the clamp and packing element is similar to that shown in Fig. 9. Shims of the same contour as the clamp may also be used to provide adjustment by their removal. Where the extensible movement of the members to be connected is limited, it will be obvious thatthe flange 38 on the inner end of the tubular member to be connected need not be spaced from the housing surface SI of the clamp nor axially from the packing element 38 in order to accomplish longitudinal displacement, since the frictional engagement of the clamp with the member to which it is in peripheral contact is not so tight but that relative longitudinal displacement will be permitted between the said members. This modification has the advantage of permitting still greater angular displacement for the same reason as given in connection with the modification shown in Fig. 9. This modification might also be made adjustable by means of an overlapping portion and spacing of the complemental ends of the split clamp similar to the modification shown in Fig. '7.

The language and expressions which have been employed throughout the specification are used as terms of description only and not of limitation, and said terms are intended to include all the equivalents and such modifications as are possible to be employed within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for coupling the adjacent ends of a pair of members that are subjected in use to elevated temperatures, comprising, a sleeve having one end thereof connected to one of said members and having the other end thereof arranged in telescopic spaced relation with the corresponding adjacent end of the other of said members, and a heat resistant non-compressible packing of the type which expands in diameter when subjected to internal stress disposed in the space between and in circumferential sliding contact with said sleeve and said other member, and being variable in diameter to conform to said space as it varies with variations in the dimensions of said sleeve and said other member due to changes in the temperatures thereof.

2. Means for coupling the adjacent ends of a pair of members that are subjected in use to elevated temperatures, comprising, a sleeve having one end thereof connected to one of said members and having the other end thereof arranged in telescopic spaced relation with the corresponding adjacent end of the other of said members, and a heat resistant non-compressible peratures, comprising, in combination with a pair I of members to be fixedly connected together, each member having an outwardly presenting flange at the joining end thereof, a sleeve arranged in spaced relation with andinclosing the said joining ends and having an inwardly presenting flange on each side thereof, and a heat resistant non-compressible metallic packing of the coil type disposed in the space between and in circumferential sliding contact with said sleeve and said other member, the ends of said members providing with said sleeve a pair of annular housings, and being variable in diameter and circumferential contour to said space as it varies in accordance with variation in the dimension of said sleeve and said other member due to changes in temperature and angular displacements thereof.

4. Means for coupling the adjacent ends of a pair of members, comprising, a sleeve having one end thereof connected to one member and the other end having an interior, concave, circumferential surface and arranged in telescopic relation with the corresponding adjacent end of the other of said members and providing therewith an annular housing, and a heat resistant packing element in the form of a coil, said coil in its normal shape havingan outer, convex, circumferential surface corresponding to said concave inner surface of said sleeve and being disposed in said annular housing in circumferential sliding contactual relation with said sleeve and said member, and being variable in diameter to conform to said space as it varies with variations in the dimensions of said sleeve and said other member due to changes in the temperatures thereof. I

' ADOLPH L. BERGER. 

